insignia

[in-sig-nee-uh]

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noun, formally a plural of insigne, but usually used as a singular with plural in·sig·ni·a or in·sig·ni·as.

a badge or distinguishing mark of office or honor: a military insignia.

a distinguishing mark or sign of anything: an insignia of mourning.

Origin of insignia

1640–50; < Latin, plural of insigne mark, badge, noun use of neuter of insignis distinguished (by a mark); see in-², sign

Usage note

Insignia, originally the plural of Latin insigne, began to be used as a singular in the 18th century, and the plural insignias appeared shortly thereafter. All uses— insignia as a singular or plural and insignias as a plural—are fully standard. The singular insigne still occurs, but insignia is more common.

insigne

[in-sig-nee]

noun

singular of insignia.

insignia.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for insignia

paraphernalia, badge, symbol, ensign, decoration, regalia, earmark, crest, mark

Examples from the Web for insignia

Contemporary Examples of insignia

U.S. defense officials told The Daily Beast the photos of the Russian insignia first shared on blogs were legitimate.
Syrian Rebels Seize Russian Spy Station Near Israeli Border
Josh Rogin, Eli Lake
October 7, 2014
A fourth soldier was too far away for his insignia to be seen.
Pro-Russian Rebels Brag Kiev Is Next
Ted Phillips
September 2, 2014
Pat Roberts' car bears the insignia of a Chrysler dealership in Maryland.
There's No Place Like Home For Kansas Senator Pat Roberts
Ben Jacobs
May 12, 2014
The Pahonia, emblem of the Belarusian nation drawn from the insignia of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, is banned under Lukashenko.
Forget Kim Jong Un—China’s New Favorite Dictator Is Belarus’s Aleksandr Lukashenko.
Kapil Komireddi
January 28, 2014
Funny thing is, there is very little difference between the Insignia and the regular Cabernet.
The Great Cabernet Ripoff
Keith Wallace
July 14, 2009

Historical Examples of insignia

The soldier looked hard at the insignia of my rank as captain.
City of Endless Night
Milo Hastings
Most of them waved to the ship with the United States insignia.
A Yankee Flier Over Berlin
Al Avery
He slipped into it and tightened the buckles, then put on his cap with the captain's insignia.
Decision
Frank M. Robinson
Wear as your insignia the yellow star of his House, and prepare for war!
Astounding Stories of Super-Science July 1930
Various
He ought to know about our army and navy flags and the insignia of rank of our officers.
Boy Scouts Handbook
Boy Scouts of America

British Dictionary definitions for insignia

insignia

noun plural -nias or -nia

a badge or emblem of membership, office, or dignity

a distinguishing sign or mark

Also called (rare): insigne (ɪnˈsɪɡniː)

Word Origin for insignia

C17: from Latin: marks, badges, from insignis distinguished by a mark, prominent, from in- ² + signum mark

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for insignia

1640s, from Latin insignia, neuter plural of insigne "badge, mark," from in- "in" (see in- (2)) + signum "mark" (see sign). Singular is insigne.